Lead Artist to shuttle to Arrowfield Stud, Australia, for the 2026 Southern Hemisphere season

Juddmonte is delighted to announce that Group 1-winning miler LEAD ARTIST, currently standing his first season at Banstead Manor Stud, will shuttle to John Messara’s Internationally renowned Arrowfield Stud in Australia for the 2026 Southern Hemisphere breeding season.

A Juddmonte homebred, Lead Artist hails from the iconic stallion-making family of Champion Sire Dansili, and is by the world-class sire of sires, Dubawi. Dubawi is exerting significant influence through his Group 1-producing sire sons, including current British and Irish Champion Sire Night of Thunder, Too Darn Hot, and Australia’s current leading second season sire, Ghaiyyath. Both Night of Thunder and Ghaiyyath are bred on the Dubawi – Galileo cross, and a variation of this potent nick also sits behind Lead Artist, with his dam Obligate being a Group 2-winning daughter of FRANKEL.

Douglas Erskine Crum, Chief Executive of Juddmonte, said: ‘‘Arrowfield’s success with shuttling stallions along with a proven track record for producing Champion Sires such as Danehill, Redoute’s Choice and Snitzel will provide Lead Artist with the perfect platform to start his Southern Hemisphere career. Australian breeders should expect a strong well-balanced horse with a wonderful outlook, physically very difficult to fault with a good easy action. In terms of pedigree, this regally bred Group 1 winning miler comes from the family of outstanding blue hen mare Hasili, whose descendants are responsible for a staggering 59 Group 1 performances. Lead Artist possesses all the credentials to continue the significant influence of the Dubawi line in Australia.’’

John Messara, Chairman of Arrowfield, said "Lead Artist reminds me of Danehill, also bred and raced by Juddmonte. His third dam is the greatest mare of the modern era, both his sire and broodmare sire are prepotent and, significantly, he is from a stallion-producing family. Add his high-class race performance, perfect size - a tick over 16 hands - and his handsome physique, and he is a compelling addition to the Arrowfield roster. And of course, we’ll be supporting him strongly with broodmares of our own."

Lead Artist’s 2026 Australian fee will be announced after the Inglis Easter Sale.